Stress and uncertainty worsen health condition of people in quarantine at Bjelave

SARAJEVO, (Patria) – People placed in quarantine at the Bjelave Student Dormitory receive most information about their status through the media. Although they regularly follow addresses by cantonal officials and crisis headquarters, many questions remain unanswered. The stress caused by such a situation also affects their health condition.

A group of travelers from Sweden was placed in quarantine on April 5, and no one officially told them they would stay there for 28 days. They were tested for the first time on April 16. Tests showed that three people, from one family, were infected with the coronavirus. All other travelers placed at Bjelave are asking for someone to officially address them and tell them how long they will stay there.

What interests them most is whether they can spend the second part of the 14-day quarantine in their own homes, given that they tested negative.

The President of the Crisis Headquarters of the Sarajevo Canton, Aida Pilav, gave vague answers to today's questions regarding the people placed in quarantine, stating that they are under the health supervision of the health center, that constant consultations are being held, and that the federal minister prescribed a 28-day quarantine.

An elderly married couple undergoing therapy for high blood pressure told Patria that they were examined only once, i.e., their blood pressure and sugar were measured.

"My husband constantly has high blood pressure even though he regularly takes his pills. This confinement and constant stress and uncertainty additionally affect us," says one of the travelers from Sweden.

She says she is very worried about her husband, whose blood pressure today was 170 over 100.

"Who will be to blame if something happens? They are keeping us here instead of letting us spend the second part in isolation in our own homes. What are we supposed to do in these ten square meters?" asks this lady, who has been trying for days to get any information about their stay at Bjelave.

In addition to travelers from Sweden, Bjelave also houses Bosnian citizens who returned from the United Kingdom and France. The first group from Italy, placed on March 27, was released to go home on April 14.